A unique semiconductor-carbon-metal hybrid structure design as a counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells.

The catalytic activity of counter electrodes (CEs) severely restricts the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. However, electrons trapped by bulk defects greatly reduce the catalytic activity of the CE. In this study, we report a novel InS-C-Au hybrid structure designed by simply decorating Au particles on the surface of carbon-coated hierarchical InS flower-like architectures, which could avoid the abovementioned problems.

Facile Preparation and Lithium Storage Properties of TiO2 @Graphene Composite Electrodes with Low Carbon Content.

Over the past decade, TiO2 /graphene composites as electrodes for lithium ion batteries have attracted a great deal of attention for reasons of safety and environmental friendliness. However, most of the TiO2 /graphene electrodes have large graphene content (9-40 %), which is bound to increase the cost of the battery. Logically, reducing the amount of graphene is a necessary part to achieve a green battery.

miR-34a inhibits cell proliferation in prostate cancer by downregulation of SIRT1 expression.

MicroRNA-34a (miR-34a) functions as a tumor suppressor gene and inhibits abnormal cell growth by regulating the expression of other genes. The role of miR-34a in regulating sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in prostate cancer remains unclear. The objective of the present study was to investigate the biological function and molecular mechanisms of miR-34a regulation of SIRT1 in human prostate cancer samples and the human prostate cancer cell line, PC-3.

A facile shape-selective growth of ZnO nanotips and graded nanowires from its oriented nanorods in a saturated ZnS solution.

A facile solution-based route is developed for the preparation of distinctive ZnO nanostructures via a dissolution-growth of ZnO nanorods in a saturated ZnS solution at a water-bath temperature of 95 °C. In the dissolution-growth process, a series of novel morphologies including nanotips, tapered and graded nanowires can be conveniently achieved by simply changing the heating time. The pointed ends of the nanotips have a diameter of several nanometers, and the graded nanowires have a gradient change in diameter from a few to tens of nanometers along the longitudinal direction with the size of the thin end matching the Bohr exciton radius of ZnO.

Tunable single-doped single-host full-color-emitting LaAlO(3):Eu phosphor via valence state-controlled means.

A full-color-emitting phosphor of valence-varied Eu doped perovskite-type LaAlO(3) with the aid of energy transfer is demonstrated and its luminescence properties can be tuned through controllable addition of doped ions.

Fabrication of Densely Packed AlN Nanowires by a Chemical Conversion of Al(2)O(3) Nanowires Based on Porous Anodic Alumina Film.

Porous alumina film on aluminum with gel-like pore wall was prepared by a two-step anodization of aluminum, and the corresponding gel-like porous film was etched in diluted NaOH solution to produce alumina nanowires in the form of densely packed alignment. The resultant alumina nanowires were reacted with NH(3) and evaporated aluminum at an elevated temperature to be converted into densely packed aluminum nitride (AlN) nanowires. The AlN nanowires have a diameter of 15-20 nm larger than that of the alumina nanowires due to the supplement of the additional evaporated aluminum.

A simple approach for large-area fabrication of Ag nanorings.

A simple and low-cost method based on a two-step heat treatment of AgNO(3)/SiO(2) film has been developed for fabricating metal Ag nanoring arrays. The as-prepared nanorings have an inner diameter of 70-250 nm and an average wall thickness (namely wire diameter) of approximately 30 nm with a number density of approximately 10(9) cm(-2) on the surface of the SiO(2) matrix. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results reveal that these nanorings exhibit a face-centered cubic crystal structure.